IELTS programme · Balance
IELTS
Fundamental
Builds balanced progress across the four skills and a solid foundation for the exam.
Its place on the route
72 hours · Live onlineUp to 4 students · At least two specialists
It closes the gap between language foundation and IELTS performance, bringing all four skills to a common level.
Focus — Academic texts · Longer written and spoken answers · Uneven skills
The programme's approach
Four skills, one level.
5.0
“Modest user” on the IELTS scale: a candidate who copes with overall meaning in most situations but makes frequent mistakes.
IELTS Fundamental is the transition programme in which B1 candidates develop their language foundation in an IELTS context. On the IELTS scale, 5.0 is the “Modest” threshold, at which a candidate copes with overall meaning in most situations but still makes frequent mistakes; the programme aims to take you beyond this threshold for good.
Sessions work with academic and everyday texts, Writing moves to paragraph and full-text level, and Speaking answers become longer and better organised. Candidates become familiar with the sections of the exam and its question types, while intensive technique work is left for Express.
Because the overall score is the average of the four skills, a single weak skill drags the whole result down. Fundamental therefore pays particular attention to narrowing the gap between skills, preparing candidates for the intensive pace of Express with a balanced profile.
Session timetable
Three schedules to suit you.
All three options share the same content and the same total of 72 hours; only the weekly intensity changes.
Weekday daytime
6 weeks
09:30–12:30
Weekday evening
8 weeks
Mon–Tue 19:00–21:00 · Wed–Thu 19:00–21:30
Weekend
8 weeks
1st session 10:00–12:30 · 2nd session 13:00–15:00
All times are Istanbul time (GMT+3).
What the
programme includes.
All the study materials suited to your level and IELTS goal are included in the programme, so there is no need to look for extra resources.
- 01Grammar and academic vocabulary materials for the move from B1 to B2
- 02Reading and listening practice that introduces IELTS question types
- 03Model answers and planning frameworks for Writing and Speaking
- 04Post-session assignments and review materials
- 05A progress note and individual feedback after every session
- 06Skill-by-skill performance and assignment tracking
- 07Feedback on your Writing and Speaking based on the IELTS criteria
- 08Regular monitoring of the balance between your skills
- 09An end-of-programme test covering the four skills and language use
Who it is for
Fundamental is for you if…
You are at B1 level and want to make a structured transition into IELTS preparation
There is a gap between your language foundation and your exam performance
Your skills are noticeably uneven (for example, your reading is good but your writing lags behind)
You need to balance the four skills before IELTS Express
A different stop may suit you better:
If you are at B2 level and meet the IELTS 5.5 entry requirement IELTS Express →︎
Admission
Entry level
4.0 / B1
Entry to Fundamental is based on the result of your free assessment or your IELTS Progress end-of-programme test. Alongside the overall score, we look at your performance across the four skills and your vocabulary and grammar foundation.
Option I
Free assessment
We look at your performance across the four skills together with your vocabulary and grammar foundation.
Option II
IELTS Progress test
We review your Progress end-of-programme test and progress reports.
Frequently asked questions
Your
questions.
If your question isn't here,
write to us directly.
01Do I move on to Express after Fundamental?
Moving up is not automatic. We review your end-of-programme assessment, your language foundation and the balance between your skills together.
02Does the programme teach IELTS technique?
It builds a basic awareness of the exam format and question types; intensive technique and time management are developed further in Express.
03Is the overall score enough on its own?
No. The overall score is the average of the four skill scores and can hide a single weak skill. That is why we look at your vocabulary and grammar foundation together with your Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking scores.
04Should I choose Academic or General Training?
That depends on the institution you are applying to. Fundamental develops the language foundation common to both tests; preparation specific to each test type begins in Express.